Russian Translation(s) & Details for 'flake'

English Word: flake

Key Russian Translations:

• снежинка [sʲnʲɪˈʐɨnkə] - [Informal, Singular; Used for natural phenomena like snow crystals]
• хлопья [xlɐˈpʲa] - [Neutral; Used in contexts like food or materials, e.g., cereal flakes]

Frequency: Medium (Common in everyday language, especially in winter-related or culinary discussions)

Difficulty: A2 (Beginner; Basic vocabulary for learners, but pronunciation of 'ж' may pose a slight challenge for non-Slavic speakers)

Pronunciation (Russian):

снежинка: [sʲnʲɪˈʐɨnkə]

хлопья: [xlɐˈpʲa]

Note on снежинка: The 'ж' sound is a voiced palatal fricative, similar to the 's' in 'measure' in English; be careful with the soft 'н' which affects the preceding consonant.

Note on хлопья: The 'х' is a voiceless velar fricative, like the 'ch' in Scottish 'loch'; this word is often pluralized in use.

Audio: []

Meanings and Usage:

Meaning 1: A small, thin piece of something, often referring to snow (e.g., snowflake)

Translation(s) & Context:

• снежинка - Used in poetic, scientific, or everyday contexts to describe a single snow crystal; common in winter weather discussions.

Usage Examples:

• Каждый снежинка падает с неба, как уникальный узор.

  Each snowflake falls from the sky like a unique pattern.

• Дети восторженно ловят снежинки на ладони.

  Children excitedly catch snowflakes in their palms.

• В микроскоп видно, что каждая снежинка имеет сложную структуру.

  Under a microscope, you can see that each snowflake has a complex structure.

• Снежинка растаяла, как только коснулась земли.

  The snowflake melted as soon as it touched the ground.

Meaning 2: A thin, flat piece, such as in food or materials (e.g., cereal flakes)

Translation(s) & Context:

• хлопья - Typically used for processed or natural thin pieces, like in breakfast cereals or soap flakes; more neutral and practical context.

Usage Examples:

• Утром я ем хлопья с молоком для завтрака.

  In the morning, I eat flakes with milk for breakfast.

• Эти хлопья шоколада добавляют в десерты для текстуры.

  These chocolate flakes are added to desserts for texture.

• Хлопья мыла легко растворяются в воде.

  Soap flakes dissolve easily in water.

• В рецепте указано добавить хлопья миндаля для хруста.

  The recipe calls for adding almond flakes for crunch.

Russian Forms/Inflections:

Both translations are nouns. Russian nouns inflect based on case, number, and gender. 'Снежинка' is a feminine noun (feminine, 1st declension), while 'хлопья' is typically plural and can vary based on context.

Note: 'Хлопья' is often used in plural form and does not have a common singular inflection in everyday use. It follows standard plural patterns with no irregularities.

Russian Synonyms/Antonyms:

• Synonyms:
  • снежинка: снежок (for a small snow particle, more playful)
  • хлопья: пластинки (for thin layers, e.g., in materials)
• Antonyms:
  • снежинка: лёд (ice, as a solid form)
  • хлопья: кусок (a chunk or large piece)

Related Phrases:

• Снежинка на ладони - A snowflake on the palm; Used metaphorically for something delicate and fleeting.
• Хлопья снега - Flakes of snow; Common phrase for describing snowfall.
• Кукурузные хлопья - Corn flakes; A standard term for breakfast cereal.

Usage Notes:

'Flake' in English can be idiomatic (e.g., an unreliable person), but in Russian, 'снежинка' is strictly literal for snow, while 'хлопья' is for physical thin pieces. Choose 'снежинка' for poetic or natural contexts and 'хлопья' for everyday or culinary ones. Be mindful of gender agreements in sentences, as 'снежинка' is feminine. In formal writing, use full inflections for precision.

Common Errors:

• Mistake: Using 'снежинка' in plural without proper inflection, e.g., saying "снежинка" instead of "снежинки" for multiple snowflakes.
  Correct: "Снежинки падают с неба" (Snowflakes are falling from the sky).
  Explanation: Russian requires case agreement; beginners often forget to adjust for plural or genitive.
• Mistake: Confusing 'хлопья' with 'пласты' (layers) in food contexts.
  Correct: Use 'хлопья' for flakes like cereal; 'пласты' for thicker layers.
  Explanation: This can lead to misunderstandings in recipes; always check context for the right word.

Cultural Notes:

In Russian culture, 'снежинка' often symbolizes uniqueness and beauty, as in the saying "Нет двух одинаковых снежинок" (There are no two identical snowflakes), which parallels ideas of individuality in literature and art. It's frequently used in winter festivals or children's stories, reflecting Russia's cold climate.

Related Concepts:

• снег (snow)
• метель (blizzard)
• кристалл (crystal)